For years in the Great Smoky Mountains, and Appalachia as a whole, pottery has played an important role in the lives of people who’ve lived in our beautiful mountains. Before the rise of industry and machines took the world by storm, making your own vessels was far easier since the mountains made it difficult to get into town, as well as provided a cheaper option than buying one that was already made.
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People love pottery for the same reason people love to paint, it’s immersive and it’s relaxing. Sure, it takes time, but in the end, it’s worth it when you get the final product. There’s also a lot of steps and tools that go into creating pottery. This can be intimidating to some, but it doesn’t have to be. In this article, you can learn eight pottery terms to help you make some sense of what’s happening in the studio, and to up your game in the gallery.
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For someone new to the world of pottery, the language that experienced potters share with one another can be intimidating. If you are just starting out with ceramic-making, have no fear. In time, you will be able to converse with even the most experienced of potters. In the meantime, though, you’ll need to learn some of the basics to get started out. The tools that ceramicists use daily are a big part of the ceramic-making process, and it’s important to understand what they are used for. From ribs to wire cutters and calipers, here is a comprehensive list of basic pottery tools to know if you’re a budding potter.
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Unless you’re a high school art teacher, your last experience with making pottery was probably, well, in high school. And if you’re being honest, you probably didn’t appreciate it for what it was back then. Not only was playing around in the clay pure fun, but it was also good for your health! Making ceramics has proven to have numerous health benefits associated with it, including stress reduction, pain relief, and more. Here is a list of 6 health benefits that making pottery can have.
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Fall in the South means SEC Football, and SEC Football means weekend upon weekend of tailgating parties with friends and family September through about the time it gets too chilly to stand outside. And even then, that’s why we have coats and bonfires, right? Tailgate parties can be hosted near a stadium, or by a stream in the Great Smoky Mountains, as long you have the necessary equipment and serve ware, that is. Here is our guide to the top pottery essentials for any tailgate looking to be a total touchdown success.
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